Our half acre homestead is typical North Carolina mountainside– red clay and rocks. There are few areas that have rich soil. So I garden in raised beds. The soils are built up from compost or the occasional expended microgreens grow trays that I just dump.
But if you have poor soil or limited growing space, then I have the solution for you. I’ve used the same grow bags every season for 5 years now and I’m very pleased with the results. Whether you have only spotty sun locations on your property, or even want to raise vegetables on your porch, this gardening method will fill the bill.
Disclosure: I’m an Amazon affiliate. If you jump to the Amazon product page from one of my links, and decide to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. Thanks!
Over the years I’ve found that these bags are especially suited for potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash and cabbage.
A big advantage of using grow bags is that they’re portable. I’ve often moved bags from one part of my garden to another when I’ve decided to use the current space for a new vegetable, or that huge oak tree on the neighbor’s property has grown to block out more morning sun. The reinforced handles have never torn, even when carrying them full of moist soil.
The prices are reasonable, considering the convenience and durability of the product.
Disadvantages?
The only problems I’ve had with them were when my husband nicked one of the bags with the weedeater and sliced a 4 inch gash. On other occasions when he’s nicked them, he confessed, they didn’t slice open. So maybe it was the type of weedeater string, or engine speed. Who knows?
The only other issue I had was when an enterprising vole burrowed up from underneath a bag, chewed through the bottom unseen, and lived large on some of my potatoes.
I find the 10 gallon and 15 gallon sizes worked for just about anything I’ve planted in them. I did buy some 5 gal. bags (before I knew what I was doing) but found they were too small for my type of vegetable gardening.
Warning! Monitor the water situation!
The bag’s fabric will wick away moisture and it will also gravitate out the bottom and away so you’ll need to keep a close watch on your soil moisture level. Seriously– watch it closely.
The only maintenance required is to empty and dry the bags before storing for winter.
I can recommend the non-woven grow bags from experience. As I said, I am finishing my 5th growing season and they’ve been a valuable part of my half-acre garden.
